ARRA supplements base construction

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Moody Air Force Base will see approximately $18 million worth of construction initiatives throughout 2009 and 2010.

The 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron's current goal is to enhance base infrastructure including the expansion of the hot pit's pavement on the airfield, repairs on the heating and air conditioning system in the communications squadron network control center building and a new roof at the 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron's main storage facility, said Lt. Col. Greg Williams, 23rd CES commander.

"The ARRA has allowed us (23rd Wing) to address construction issues that we may not have been able to fund until years down the line," said Colonel Williams. "The ARRA has allowed us to address vital needs of the base, while also pumping money through the local economy."

After the first increment of stimulus money was approved, the 23rd CES was prepared to submit different construction projects that needed to be addressed on base.

"All of the projects that the ARRA is funding have been tracked by the 23rd CES for quite some time," said John Eunice, 23rd CES deputy commander. "We didn't just come up with items to fix. All of the construction initiatives are needs that the base has previously recognized."

Along with the infrastructure initiatives, the stimulus money will also fund a new $11.4 million Child Development Center that will have space for more than 130 daycare students. The new CDC will be located where the wing commander's current house is next to the north gate.

Moody was also the first base in Air Combat Command to award an ARRA project and hopes to continue recognizing and addressing the needs of the base.

"After the next increment of stimulus money is handed down we hope to be aggressive and prepared with our identified needs," said Mr. Eunice.

So far, the ARRA has allowed Moody to invest in its infrastructure, allowing better working conditions for 23rd Wing Airmen.

"All of these construction initiatives have been great for the wing," said Mr. Eunice. "However, the 23rd CES doesn't deserve all of the credit; much of it goes to our partners in the 23rd Wing, Mission Support Group and Contracting Squadron.

"We also want to recognize contractors in the local community who have been instrumental in the different construction initiatives success."

Through the recovery act, the 23rd CES, along with their partners across base and in the community will now be able to address new issues that can help Moody Airmen accomplish their mission.